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flELIGIONJISTORY.COIIDIIION  AND  DESTINY. 


n   Address  delivered  before  the  Ethical  Society,  at  South  f-lace 
Institute,   London,   by 

OP   SALT    LAKE    CITY,    UTAH. 


vr^^dnnot  Ur  nig  form  evUj'ruit^  neither  can  a 
pt  tree  bring  forth  good  fruit.— Matt,  vii,  18. 


^k 


SALT  LAKE  CITY  : 

III     THE  DESERET  NEWS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY. 
1892. 

Hi 


REKD 


Was  lie  a  Prophei  of  Hod  ? 

By  Elder   |.  M.  Sjodahl.  a  most  excdient 
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is  printed  in  binai-e 
to  carry  m  the  po<--lceL. 


r  fo.in  anc    is  conxe'iieat 


:l\j,  cts.  eac'i 


The  

Mediiition  and  Atonem^^nt, 

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THE  CHURCH  OF  JESQS  CHRIST 
OF  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

its  lieligion,  fislorg,  Conbitton,  aub  gosling. 


AN  ADDRESS  DELIVERED  BEFORE  THE  ETHICAL  SOCIETY, 
AT  SOUTH  PLACE  INSTITUTE,  LONDON,  BY 

JAMES     H.     ANDERSON, 

OF  SALT  LAKE  CITT,  UTAH. 


A  good  tree  cannot  bring  forth  evil  fruit,  neither  can  a  corrupt 
tree  bring  forth  good  fruit.— Matt,  vii,  18. 


SALT  LAKE   CITY: 

THE  DESERET  NEWS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY. 
1892. 


fS5S 
,  INDEX- 

i^  , 

PAGE. 

Introductory 3 

Articles  of  Faith      5 

The  Godhead 8 

Men  Judged  by  their  Works      11 

The  Atonement        13 

The  Gospel  Ordinances — Faith 16 

Repentance 18 

Baptism           19 

Baptism  for  the  Dead        23 

The  Holy  Ghost      27 

Divine  Authority     29 

Officers            31 

Spiritual  Gifts          33 

The  Apostasy            35 

The  Book  of  Mormon        38 

Revelation      ...  46 

Restoration  of  the  Gospel            48 

Other  Doctrines       50 

A  Glance  at  History          52 

Present  Condition 59 

Future  Destiny        60 

rhe  Gospel  Message          62 


Bancroft  Libraty 


THE  CHURCH  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  OF 
LATTER-DAY  SALNTS. 


^^F  THE  religious  denominations  now  in 

^-^     existence  among   men,  uonf^  have  at- 

^  tracted  such  attention  from  the  others  as  irie 

organization  known  as  The  Church  of  Jesus 

'i  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  the  membefs 

5.  of  which  are  popularly,  though  erroneously, 

^j?  called  "  Mormons,"  because  of  their  belief  in 

^  the  divine  authenticity  of  the  Book  of  Mor- 

n^on,  a  record  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of 

•-''  America.     In  every  nation  where  the  fame  of 

^,  this  Church  has  spread,  and  where  its  Eiders 

-^  have  appeared  to  teach  their  faith,  one  feature 

4  which  stands  pre-eminent  is  the  bitterness 

^with  which  they  are  opposed,  without  even 

the  opportunity  of  being  heard,  principally 

by  professed  believers  in  Christianity. 

Some  there  are  who  are  practical  in  their 
adherence  to  the  doctrine  of  religious  toler- 
ation, and  whose  expansive  minds  lead  them 


4  THE  LATTER-DAY   SAINTS. 

to  refrain  froni  passing  judgment  till  they 
hear  the  case  fairly  stated.  They  hesitate 
to  follow  popular  clamor,  preferring  to  ascer- 
tain the  truth  for  themselves,  rather  than 
give  assent  to  the  voice  of  prejudice  and 
bigotry  which  demanded  the  life  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  because  He  claimed  to  be  the  Son 
of  God.  But  these  are  the  exception ;  the 
rule  has  been  to  accept  without  question  as- 
sertions made  against  the  Latter-day  Saints, 
and  to  decline  to  listen  to  anything  in  the 
way  of  denial  or  justification.  With  this 
prominent  fact  before  us,  it  is  beyond  dispute 
that  to  this  organization  above  all  others  in 
this  generation  must  be  applied  the  saying, 
"For  as  concerning  this  sect,  we  know  that 
everywhere  it  is  spoken  against." 

Doubtless  much  of  this  antagonism  is  due 
to  ignorance  of  the  true  belief,  aims  and  con- 
dition o^  V--3  Latter-day  Saints.  Certainly  it 
is  largely  because  of  gross  misrepresentations 
by  those  who  have  constituted  themselves 
their  enemies.  The  reason  for  assuming  this 
position  can  be  left  for  explanation  to  those 
who  occupy  it.  The  purpose  of  the  present 
occasion  is  not  to  consider  that  branch  of  the 
subject,  but  rather  to  present  the  doctrines 
believed  in  by  the  Latter-day  Saints,  and  the 
reason  for  that  belief.    The  limited  time  at  our 


THE   LATTER-DAY   SAINTS.  5 

disposal  will  admit  of  only  a  brief  exposition 
of  those  doctrines ;  all  who  are  desirous  of 
more  elaborate  explanation  may  obtain  it  from 
the  published  works  of  the  Church,  and  from 
its  Elders,  who  will  be  pleased  to  present  to 
investigators  the  Gospel  message  which  they 
are  proclaiming  to  the  world  The  present 
opportunity  is  sufficient  for  but  an  abridged 
statement,  in  plain  and  simple  language, 
of  the  religious  system  under  considera- 
tion. 

This  Church  presents  no  formula  of  re- 
ligious dogmas.  Its  creed  is  :  The  direct  rev- 
elation of  God  to  His  children.  As  He  is 
without  variableness,  and  is  no  respecter  of 
persons,  so  His  laws  are  unchangeable ;  and 
whatsoever  He  gives  by  the  voice  of  revela- 
tion is  a  law  unto  the  Saints.  The  organiza- 
tion of  this  Church  was  effected  at  Fayette, 
New  York,  on  Sunday,  the  sixth  day  of 
April,  1830.  Shortly  after  this  event,  its  pre- 
siding Apostle  and  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith, 
was  asked  for  a  concise  statement  of  what  he 
and  his  people  believed,  and  in  reply  he  wrote 
the  following  ; 

ARTICLKS  OF  FAITH  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  JESUS  CHRIST 
OF  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

1.  We  believe  in  God,  the  Eternal  Father,  and  in 
His  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 


6  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

2.  We  believe  that  men  will  be  punished  for  their 
own  sins,  and  not  for  Adam's  transgression. 

3.  We  believe  that  through  the  atonement  of  Christ, 
all  mankind  may  be  saved,  by  obedience  to  the  lav/ 
and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel. 

4.  We  believe  that  these  ordinances  are  :  First, 
Faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  second,  Eepentances, 
third,  Baptism  by  immersion  for  the  remission  of  sins  ; 
fourth.  Laying  on  of  hands  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

5.  We  believe  that  a  man  must  be  called  of  God.  by 
*'  prophecy,  and  by  the  laying  on  of  hands,"  by  those 
who  are  in  authority,  to  preach  the  Gospel  and  admin 
ister  in  the  ordinances  thereof. 

6.  We  believe  in  the  same  organization  that  existed 
in  the  primitive  Church,  viz:  Apostles,  Prophets,  Pas- 
tors, Teachers,  Evangelists,  etc. 

7.  We  believe  in  the  gift  of  tongues,  prophecy,  reve- 
lation, visions,  healing,  interpretation  of  tongues,  etc. 

8.  We  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God,  as 
far  as  it  is  translated  correctly;  we  also  believe  the 
Book  of  Mormon  to  be  the  word  of  God. 

9.  We  believe  all  that  God  has  revealed,  all  that  He 
does  now  reveal,  and  we  believe  that  He  will  yet  re- 
veal many  great  and  important  things  pertaining  to 
the  Kingdom  of  God- 

10.  We  believe  in  the  literal  gathering  of  Israel  and 
in  the  restoration  of  the  Ten  Tribes.  That  Zion  will 
be  built  upon  this  continent.  That  Christ  will  reign 
personally  upon  the  earth,  and  that  the  earth  will  be 
renewed  and  receive  its  paradisic  glory. 

11.  We  claim  the  privilege  of  worshiping  Almighty 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of  our  conscience,  and 


THE  LATTER-DAY   SAINTS.  7 

• 

allow  ali   men  the  same  privilege,  let  them  worship 
how,  where  or  what  they  may. 

12,  We  believe  in  being  subject  to  kings,  presidents, 
rulers  and  magistrates,  in  obeying,  honoring  and  sus- 
taining the  law. 

13.  We  believe  in  being  honest,  true,  chaste,  benevo- 
ent,  virtuous,  and  in  doing  good  to  all  men;  indeed 
we  may  say  that  we  follow  the  admonition  of  Paul, 
*  We  believe  all  things,  we  hope  all  things,''  we  have 
endured  many  things,  and  hope  to  be  able  to  endure 
all  things.  If  there  is  anything  virtuous,  lovely  or  of 
good  report  or  praiseworthy,  we  seek  after  these  things. 

The  position  taken  by  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  and  those  who  have  given  heed  to  the 
doctrines  he  presented  is  that  they  have  no 
new  system  of  religion  to  offer  to  the  world, 
but  that  their  message  is  the  fulness  of  the 
everlasting  Gospel ;  the  Gospel  which  Paul 
said  was  *'  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation, 
to  every  one  that  believeth  ;"  the  Gospel  of 
which  the  Bible  bears  record,  and  which  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  His  disciples  taught  as 
the  commandment  of  God  to  His  children. 
While  they  testify  that  it  is  a  new  revela- 
tion to  them  in  this  dispensation,  "the 
latter  days,"  and  that  they  received  through 
heavenly  messengers  sent  from  the  throne  ot 
the  great  Jehovah  all  the  knowledge  they 
possess  of  the  plan  of  salvation,  and  also  the 
authority  to  preach  the  Gospel  and  admin- 


8  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

ister  in  its  ordinances,  they  point  out  that  it 
is  the  same  Gospel  and  divine  message  that 
was  revealed  to  man  in  ancient  days  ;  the 
"one  faith"  of  which  Paul  spake  to  the  Ephe- 
sians  ;  the  Everlasting  Gospel,  the  plan  in- 
stituted by  God  for  the  salvation  of  His 
children— unchangeable,  eternal,  and  trans- 
cendently  perfect. 

Upon  this  presentation  of  the  case,  then, 
are  they  to  be  judged.  They  thus  place 
every  principle  or  doctrine  within  the  field 
of  comparison  with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  both 
in  the  Old  and  the  New  Testament. 

THE   GODHEAD- 

The  first  of  the  Articles  of  Faith  declares 
a  belief  "in  God  the  Eternal  Father,  and  in 
His  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the  Holy 
Ghost."  That  is,  that  the  Father  is  a  per- 
sonage of  spirit,  glory  and  power,  possessing 
all  perfection  and  fulness ;  the  Son  a  person- 
age of  tabernacle  also,  who  is  the  express 
image  of  His  Father,  and  possesses  the  same 
fulness  with  the  Father,  in  whose  image  also 
man  is  created  ;  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  that 
which  bears  record  of  the  Father  and  the 
Son,  the  life-giving  element  in  all  nature,  the 
agent  of  God's  power,  by  which,  through 
faith,  all  things  are  controlled.     These  three 


THE  XATTER-DAY   SAINTS.  9 

constitute  the  Supreme  governing  power,  the 
G<xlhead,  and  are  one — above  all,  and  in  all, 
and  through  all— omnipotent,  omniscient  and 
omnipresent. 

The  idea  thus  set  forth  is  that  in  form  man 
is  the  image  of  his  Creator.  The  Bible  con- 
tains no  suggestion  of  a  similarity  in  form 
with  any  of  the  other  creations  of  the 
Almighty.  But  with  respect  to  man  it  is 
distinctly  expressed  in  Genesis  i  :  26,  27 : 
"  And  God  said,  Let  us  make  man  in  our  own 
image,  after  our  likeness,  and  let  them  have 
dominion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  and  over 
the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  the  cattle,  and 
over  all  the  earth,  and  over  every  creeping 
thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth.  So  God 
created  man  in  His  own  image  ;  in  the  image 
of  God  created  He  him ;  male  and  female 
created  He  them." 

Paul,  in  writing  of  God,  says  that  Jesus 
was  the  "express  image  of  His  person" 
(Hebrews  i :  3),  being  "  in  the  form  of  God  " 
(Phil,  ii :  6).  In  the  record  which  Matthew 
has  made  of  the  Lord's  baptism,  he  describes 
the  action  of  the  three  who  constitute  the 
Godhead  :  Jesus  receiving  the  baptism  of 
water,  the  "  Spirit  of  God  descending  like  a 
dove  and  lighting  upon  Him,"  and  a  voice 
— the   voice   of    the   Father — uttering   from 


10  THE   LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

heaven,  "This  is  ray  beloveii  Son,  in  whom 
I  am  well  pleased"  (Matt,  iii:  16,  17).  The 
Redeemer  of  the  world  Himself  testifies  of 
their  individuality  :  "  For  as  the  Father  hath 
life  in  Himself ;  so  hath  He  given  to  the  Son 
to  have  life  in  Himself  ;  and  hath  given  Him 
authority  to  execute  judgment  also,  because 
He  is  the  Son  of  man"  (John  v:  26,  27); 
"Ye  have  heard  how  I  said  unto  you,  I  go 
away,  and  come  again  unto  you.  If  ye  loved 
me,  ye  would  rejoice,  because  1  said,  I  go  unto 
the  Father  :  for  my  Father  is  greater  than 
I"  (John  xiv:  28);  "Nevertheless,!  tell 
you  the  truth  ;  it  is  expedient  for  you  that  I 
go  away  :  for  if  I  go  not  away,  the  Com- 
forter will  not  come  unto  you  ;  but  if  I  de- 
part, J  will  send  him  unto  you  "  (John  xviii  : 
7  );  "  But  when  the  Comforter  is  come,  whom 
1  will  send  unto  you  from  the  Father,  even 
the  Spirit  of  Truth,  which  proceedeth  from 
the  Father,  He  shall  testify  of  me"  (John 
XV  :  26). 

In  the  solemn  prayer  offered  up  before  His 
betrayal,  the  Divine  Master  besought  His 
Father,  in  behalf  of  His  disciples,-  "That 
they  all  may  be  one  ;  as  Thou,  Father,  art 
in  me,  and  I  in  Thee,  that  they  also  may 
be  one  in  us  :  that  the  world  may  believe 
that  Thou  hast   sent  me.      And  the   glory 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  11 

which  Thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  them; 
that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one  " 
(John  xvii :  21,  22).  The  unity  of  purpose 
and  action  in  all  things  constitutes  the  one- 
ness. This  union  Jesus  sought  to  bring  to 
His  Apostles,  that,  each  having  his  distinct 
personality,  they  might  be  one,  "even  as  we 
are  one." 

MEN  JUDGED  BY  THEIR  WORKS.  . 

''We  believe  that  men  will  be  punished  for 
the^'r  own  sins,  and  not  for  Adam's  trans- 
gression." 

By  this  transgression  death  came  into  the 
world,  that  men  might  gain  the  experience  of 
a  mortal  probation.  But  that  man  should  be 
held  responsible  for  an  act  in  which  he  had 
no  agency  would  evidently  be  an  injustice. 
Our  Father,  being  a  just  God,  must  therefore 
deal  justly  with  His  children.  What  is  the 
doctrine  of  the  Scriptures  respecting  the  res- 
ponsibility of  men  ?  In  Jeremiah  xvii :  10,  it 
is  announced  :  "I  the  Lord  search  the  heart, 
I  try  the  reins,  even  to  giv^e  every  man  ac- 
cording to  his  ways,  and  according  to  th'^ 
fruit  of  his  doings."  As  the  laws  of  truth 
and  justice  are  inflexible  in  their  operation 
and  effect,  judgment  as  certainly  follows  evil 
as  blessings  result  from  good  deeds. 


12  THE   LATTER-DAY   SAINTS. 

The  beloved  Apostle,  in  recording  his  vision 
of  the  judgment,  tells  us;  "And  I  saw  the 
dead,  small  and  great,  stand  before  God  ;  and 
the  books  were  opened  :  and  another  book 
was  opened,  ^vhich  is  the  book  of  life :  and 
the  dead  were  judged  out  of  those  things 
which  were  written  in  the  books,  according 
to  their  works.  And  the  sea  gave  up  the 
dead  which  were  in  it ;  and  death  and  hell 
delivered  up  the  dead  which  were  in  them  : 
and  they  were  judged  every  man  according 
to  their  works  "  (Rev.  xx  :  12,  13).  Language 
can  be  no  plainer  to  inform  mankind  of  the 
evidence  that  will  be  adduced  for  or  against 
them  at  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ.  It  will 
be  their  deeds  ;  and  from  the  judgment  they 
will  make  no  appeal,  for  they  cannot  but 
realize  its  justice. 

By  the  divine  law,  man  is  answerable  for 
his  own  sins.  He  is  not  compelled  to  bear 
the  wrongs  of  another  in  the  reward  which 
he  will  receive  at  God^s  judgment.  The  trans- 
gression of  Adam  was  not  ours,  and  can  have 
no  ill  effects  upon  us  ;  it  rather  becomes  a 
blessing  by  the  mercy  of  Jehovah.  The  Lat- 
ter-day Saints  believe  that,  as  by  Adam  death 
came  into  the  world,  without  our  action,  so  is 
life  the  free  gift  to  all  men,  through  the  atone- 
ment of  the  Lord  Jesus.    This  is  the  doctrine 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  13 

of  the  Bible.  Paul  expresses  it  thus :  "Where- 
fore, as  by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the  world, 
and  death  by  sin  ;  and  so  death  passed  upon 
all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinned :  therefore 
as  by  the  ofifence  of  one  judgment  came  upon 
all  men  to  condemnation  ;  even  so  by  the 
righteousness  of  one  the  free  gift  came  upon 
all  men  unto  justification  of  life"  (Romans 
V  :  12,  18).  The  Lord  has  peimHted  no  doubt 
to  remain  respecting  the  sins  for  whf.ch  men 
will  be  punished  and  the  good  for  which  they 
will  be  rewarded.  His  wo^-d  is :  "  For  the 
Son  of  man  shall  come  in  the  glory  of  His 
Father  with  His  angels ;  and  then  He  shall 
reward  every  man  according  to  his  works  ^' 
(Matt,  xvi :  27).  The  testimony  which  He 
gave  to  John  the  Divine  on  the  Isle  of  Patmos 
was  :  "  I  will  give  every  one  of  you  according 
to  your  works"  (Rev.  ii:  23);  "And  behold, 
I  come  quickly  ;  and  my  reward  is  with  me, 
to  give  every  man  according  as  his  work  shall 
be"  (Rev.  xxii:  12). 

THE  ATONEMENT. 

"We  believe  that  through  the  atonement- 
of  Christ  all  mankind  may  be  saved,  by  obe- 
dience to  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  the 
Gospel." 

By  this  atonement  is  brought  the  victory 


14  THE  LAfTEE-DAY  SAINTS. 

over  death ;  the  resurrection  of  the  body  to 
life ;  the  raising  of  man  to  a  position  where 
he  is  not  subject  to  death.  But  it  goes  far- 
ther in  the  article  of  faith  read.  It  brings 
salvation  by  obedience  to  the  Gospel.  Salva- 
tion, then,  is  more  than  a  redemption  from 
the  fall.  The  latter  comes  to  man  without 
his  agency,  so  far  as  the  mere  restoration 
to  life  is  concerned.  That  is  the  doctrine 
which  the  Apostles  taught  :  "  For  since 
by  man  came  death,  by  man  came  also  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead.  For  as  in  Adam  all 
die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive  " 
(1  Cor.  XV :  21,  22).  Since  the  Savior  brought 
to  pass  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  His 
atonement  has  a  universal  application,  and 
"  there  shall  be  a  resurrection  of  the  dead, 
both  of  the  just  and  unjust"  (Acts  xxiv:  15). 
Does  the  atonement  do  more  ?  The  Latter- 
day  Saints  reply  in  the  affirmative.  Matthew 
(chap,  i:  21)  records  that  the  angel  declared 
to  Joseph,  when  foretelling  the  birth  of  the 
infant  Jesus,  "  For  He  shall  save  His  people 
from  their  sins."  The  Apostle  Peter  says : 
"  Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other  :  for 
there  is  none  other  name  under  heaven  given 
among  men,  whereby  we  must  be  saved" 
(Acts  iv :  12).  By  obedience  to  the  laws  and 
■ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  salvation  comes  to 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  15 

man ;  it  is  that  which  is  added  to  the  chil- 
dren of  men  by  the  atoning  blood  of  the  Re 
deemer,  when  the  requirements  of  His  Gospel 
are  complied  with.  Until  this  is  done,  there 
is  no  salvation  from  sin.  The  Apostle  John 
makes  this  unequivocal  declaration  :  "  This 
then  is  the  message  which  we  have  heard  of 
Him,  and  declare  unto  you,  that  God  is  light, 
and  in  Him  is  no  darkness  at  all.  If  we  say 
that  we  have  fellowship  with  Him,  and  walk 
in  darkness,  we  lie,  and  do  not  the  truth  ;  but 
if  we  walk  in  the  light,  as  He  is  in  the  light, 
we  have  fellowship  one  with  another,  and  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ  His  Son  cleanseth  us 
from  all  sin "  (1  John  i :  5,  7).  If  we  would 
be  cleansed  from  all  sin  by  the  blood  of  Christ 
Jesus,  the  condition  is  that  "  we  walk  in  the 
light  as  He  is  in  the  light."  If  this  be  not 
our  course,  the  Apostle  says  "  we  lie,  and  do 
not  the  truth."  To  these  teachings  is  placed 
the  seal  and  testimony  of  the  Divine  Master 
Himself,  in  His  sermon  on  the  mount :  '*  Not 
every  one  that  saith  unto  me.  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  but 
he  that  doeth  the  will  of  my  Father  which  is 
in  heaven  "  (Matt,  vii :  21).  "  In  vain  do  ye 
worship  me,"  said  He  to  those  who  followed 
the  tradition  of  men  instead  of  keeping  "  the 
commandment  of  God"  (Mark  vii  :  7,  8), 


16  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

THE  GOSPEL  ORDINANCES — FAITH. 

"  We  believe  that  these  ordinances  are ! 
First — Faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

The  principle  of  faith  is  the  moving  cause 
of  all  action  in  intelligent  beings.  Faith  in 
the  Lord  is  the  fundamental  principle  leading 
to  obedience  to  His  will.  It  is  the  assurance 
which  we  have  of  unseen  things  By  its  exer- 
cise we  are  alone  able  to  approach  the  throne 
of  grace.  "  Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to 
please  Him  ;  for  he  that  cometh  to  God  must 
believe  that  He  is,  and  that  He  is  a  rewarder 
of  them  that  diligently  seek  Him  "  (Heb.  xi : 
6).  It  is  not  a  mere  passive  belief ;  but  being 
a  principle  of  action  and  power,  it  inculcates 
works  in  harmony  with  itself.  The  Savior 
says  :  "  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled ;  ye 
believe  in  God,  believe  also  in  me.  Verily, 
Verily,  I  say  unto  you.  He  that  believeth  on 
me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also ;  and 
greater  works  than  these  shall  he  do,  because 
I  go  unto  my  Father  "  (John  xiv :  1,  12). 

It  is  the  belief  of  the  Latter-day  Saints  that 
the  Gospel  is  the  working  law  of  Christ ;  that 
faith  in  Him,  to  have  life,  must  be  accom- 
panied by  works  in  accord  with  the  mental 
exercise  of  faith.  As  the  Apostle  James  says : 
"  But  be  ye  doers  of  the  word,  and  not  hearers 
only,  deceiving  your  own  selves  "  (i :  22).   This 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  17 

Apostle  writes,  "  For  as  the  body  without 
the  spirit  is  dead,  so  faith  without  works  is 
dead  also ;"  and  in  the  second  chapter  of  his 
epistle  (verses  14—24)  he  states :  "  What  doth 
it  profit,  my  brethren,  though  a  man  say  he 
hath  faith,  and  have  not  works?  Can  faith 
save  him?  If  a  brother  or  sister  be  naked, 
and  destitute  of  daily  food,  and  one  of  you 
say  unto  them.  Depart  in  peace,  be  ye  warmed 
and  filled  ;  notwithstanding  ye  give  them  not 
those  things  which  are  needful  to  the  body ; 
what  doth  it  profit  ?  Even  so  faith,  if  it  hath 
not  works,  is  dead,  being  alone.  Yea,  a  man 
may  say,  Thou  hast  faith  and  I  have  works : 
shew  me  thy  faith  without  thy  works,  and  I 
will  shew  thee  my  faith  by  my  works.  Thou 
belie  vest  that  there  is  one  God ;  thou  doest 
well :  the  devils  also  believe,  and  tremble.  But 
wilt  thou  know,  O  vain  man,  that  faith  with- 
out works  is  dead?  Was  not  Abraham  our 
father  justified  by  works,  when  he  had  offered 
Isaac  his  son  upon  the  altar  ?  Seest  thou  how 
faith  wrought  with  his  works,  and  by  works 
was  faith  made  perfect?  And  the  scripture 
was  fulfilled  which  saith,  Abraham  believed 
God,  and  it  was  imputed  unto  him  for  right- 
eousness :  and  he  was  called  the  Friend  of  God. 
Ye  see  then  how  that  by  works  a  man  is  justi- 
fied, and  not  by  faith  only." 
2 


18  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

The  Lord  said,  "  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord 
thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy 
soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind.  This  is  the  first 
and  great  commandment "  (Matt,  xxii :  37, 
38).  He  also  explains  what  it  is  to  love  God : 
'*  He  that  hath  my  commandments,  and  keep- 
eth  them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me  :  and  he  that 
loveth  me  shall  be  loved  of  my  Father,  and  I 
will  love  him,  and  will  manifest  my^^^^lf  to 
him"  (John  xiv  21).  This  is  faith  ^a  and 
love  of  God  :  keeping  His  commandments. 

REPENTANCE. 

"  Second — Repentance.*' 

To  those  who,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  be- 
lieved on  the  Apostles'  words,  and  had  awak- 
ened within  their  hearts  faith  m  the  Lord 
Jesus,  Peter  gave  the  law  of  the  Gospel : 
"  Repent,  and  be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  for  the  remission  of 
sins,  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  For  the  promise  is  unto  you,  and  to 
your  children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar  ofi,  even 
as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call" 
(Acts  ii :  38,  39).  This  law  was  universal  in 
its  application.  It  was  ''  to  all  that  are  afar 
off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall 
call." 

When  John  the  Baptist  came  in  the  wilder- 


THE  LATTEK-DAY  SAINTS.  19 

ness  of  Judea,  as  the  messenger  before  the 
Lord,  preaching  "  the  beginning  of  the  Gospel 
of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,"  he  pro- 
claimed, "Repent  ye,  for  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  at  hand  "  (Matt,  iii :  2).  Of  those 
who  presented  themselves  for  baptism  he  re- 
quired conformity  to  the  doctrine  which  pre- 
ceded it.  If  they  had  not  repented,  the  ordi- 
nance of  baptism  was  refused  to  them.  When 
many  of  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  came, 
he  called  them  a  "  generation  of  vipers,"  and 
demanded  that  they  "bring  forth  therefore 
fruits  meet  for  repentance "  (Matt,  iii :  7,  8). 
God  "commandeth  all  men  everywhere  to 
repent" — to  turn  from  evil  and  walk  in  right- 
eousness, for  therein  only  is  salvation.  The 
Lord  says,  "Except  ye  repent  ye  shall  all 
likewise  perish"  (Luke  xiii :  3). 

BAPTISM. 

*' Third—Baptism  by  immersion  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins." 

To  the  repentant  believer  this  is  the 
"baptism  of  repentance  for  the  remission 
of  sins  "taught  by  John  the  Baptist  (Mark 
i :  4).  On  the  day  of  Pentecost,  Peter  pointed 
the  way  to  salvation,  "Eepent,  and  be  bap- 
tized every  one  of  you  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins  "  (Acts  ii :  38). 


20  THE   LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

When  the  jailor  sought  to  be  saved,  Paul  and 
Silas  "  spake  unto  hift.  the  word  of  the  Lord," 
and  he  **  was  baptized,  he  and  all  his,  straight- 
way "  (Acts  xvi :  30—33). 

So  important  is  this  ordinance  for  admis- 
sion into  the  Church  of  God,  that  the  Lord 
Jesus  insisted  on  receiving  it  at  the  hands  of 
John  the  Baptist,  who  was  authorized  to  ad- 
minister it.  John  had  preached  that  there 
should  come  after  him  One  who  should  bap- 
tize "with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire," 
and  when  Jesus  presented  Himself  on  Jor- 
dan's banks,  the  Prophet  recognized  that 
mightier  One.  He  felt  his  own  weakness  in 
the  presence  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  said,  "  I 
have  need  to  be  baptized  of  Thee,  and  comest 
Thou  to  me  ?"  But  Jesus  knew  the  law  of 
God.  He  knew  that  it  was  necessary  for 
even  the  Son  of  Man  to  enter  at  the  door,  and 
obey  the  ordinance  which  His  Father  had  ap- 
pointed. Therefore  He  answered  John,  "  Suffer 
it  to  be  so  now,  for  thus  it  becometh  us  to 
fulfil  all  righteousness  "  (Matt,  iii :  15).  Then 
the  Savior  of  the  world  went  down  into  the 
river  Jordan,  and  was  baptized  of  John. 
When  He  came  out  of  the  water,  there  was 
given  that  glorious  manifestation  of  the  ap- 
proval by  His  Father  of  the  act  of  submission 
to  the  divine  law,  ^'and  lo,  the  heavens  were 


c 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  "21 

opened  unto  Him,  and  He  saw  the  Spirit  of 
God  descending  like  a  dove,  and  lighting 
upon  Him  :  and  lo,  a  voice  from  heaven,  say- 
ing, This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am 
well  pleased"  (Matt,  iii :  16,  17). 

If  it  was  necessary  for  the  Son  of  God,  the 
Redeemer  of  the  world,  to  receive  the  ordi- 
nance of  baptism  at  the  hands  of  one  having 
authority  to  administer  it,  that  He  might 
"fulfil  all  righteousness,"  wherein  can  sinful 
man  hope  to  enter  by  any  other  way  ?  And 
when  that  act  of  obedience  to  law  on  the  part 
of  the  Divine  Master  was  signalized  by  »the 
glorious  descent  upon  Him  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  brought  forth  from  the  Eternal  Father 
the  solemn  declaration  that  He  was  well 
pleased  with  the  Son  who  had  just  passed 
through  the  baptism  of  water,  who  among 
men  dare  say  that  the  ordinance  is  vain,  and 
useless,  and  non-essential ;  that  it  is  not  of 
paramount  importance  to  those  who  would 
do  the  will  of  the  Father  ? 

The  Lord  also  declared  that  the  baptism  of 
John  was  "the  counsel  of  God" — this  ordi- 
nance that  was  "the  baptism  of  repentance 
for  the  remission  of  sins."  Said  Jesus  :  "  All 
the  people  that  heard  him,  and  the  publicans, 
justified  God,  being  baptized  with  the  baptism 
of  John;  but  the  Pharisees  and  lawyers  re- 


22  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

jected  the  counsel  of  God  against  themselves, 
being  not  baptized  of  him  "  (Luke  vii :  29,  30). 
As  the  Lord  went  forth  in  His  ministry, 
preaching  the  Gospel  of  the  kingdom,  there 
came  to  Him  Nicodemus,  a  ruler  of  the  Jews. 
To  him  Jesus  said :  "  Except  a  man  be  born 
again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God" 
(John  iii  ;  3).  Nicodemus  did  not  fully  com- 
prehend this  saying,  and  made  further  in- 
quiry, receiving  a  reply  in  language  that  none 
need  misunderstand:  "Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  thee,  except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and 
of  fihe  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  God  "  (John  iii :  5).  Therefore,  when 
the  Master  commissioned  His  disciples  and 
sent  them  out,  after  they  had  been  "endowed 
with  power  from  on  high,"the  command  which 
they  received  and  obeyed  was  :  "  Go  ye,  there- 
fore, and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in 
the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost :  teaching  them  to  observe 
all  things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you : 
and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world  "  (Matt,  xxviii :  19,  20). 

In  this  labor  of  the  ministry,  to  which  they 
had  been  called  and  ordained  of  the  Lord,  He 
fulfilled  His  promise,  and  was  with  them  : 
"  And  they  went  forth  and  preached  every- 
where, the  Lord  working  with  them,  and  con- 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  23 

firming  the  word  with  signs  following  "  (Mark 
xvi  :  20).  The  Apostles  taught :  "  Repent 
and  be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins" 
(Acts  ii  :  38) ;  "  Know  ye  not,  that  so  many 
of  us  as  were  baptized  into  Jesus  Christ  were 
baptized  into  His  death  ?  Therefore  we  are 
buried  with  Him  by  baptism  into  death :  that 
like  as  Christ  was  raised  up  from  the  dead  by 
the  glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we  also  should 
walk  in  newness  of  life.  For  if  we  have  been 
planted  together  in  the  likeness  of  His  death, 
we  shall  be  also  in  the  likeness  of  His  resur- 
rection "  (Romans  vi :  3 — 5) ;  "  Buried  with 
Him  in  baptism,  wherein  also  ye  are  risen 
with  Him  through  the  faith  of  the  operation 
of  God,  who  hath  raised  Him  from  the  dead  " 
(Col.  ii :  12).  Here,  then,  is  the  Gospel  doc- 
trine :  Baptism  by  immersion  for  the  remis- 
sion of  sins,  performed  by  one  having  author- 
ity ;  the  birth,  the  burial,  the  planting  in 
the  watery  element,  without  which  ordinance 
the  Lord  has  said  that  no  man  can  enter  the 
kingdom  of  heaven. 

BAPTISM  FOR  THE  DEAD. 
It  may  be  suggested  that  there  are  millions 
of  the  human  family  who.  have  not  had  the 
opportunity  of  receiving  of  the  baptism  of  re- 


24  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

pentance  by  one  having  divine  authority — 
millions  who  never  even  heard  of  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ.  The  Latter-day  Saints  believe 
that  the  Gospel  provides  for  all ;  that  there 
is  and  can  be  no  exception ;  that  every  one 
who  will  may  partake  of  the  waters  of  life 
freely ;  that  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons, 
but  judges  men  by  their  works.  A  plan  of 
salvation  that  is  adapted  to  the  few,  that  does 
not  open  the  door  to  every  being  within  the 
great  brotherhood  of  man,  is  unworthy  of  the 
Creator  and  God  of  the  universe.  The  Gospel 
of  the  Lord  must  be  perfect,  even  as  He  is 
perfect,  and  reach  to  all  humanity. 

The  query  is  made,  How  did  the  thief  who 
died  on  the  cross  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven ; 
there  is  no  record  of  his  baptism  ?  Let  the 
Scriptures  give^he  answer:  "And  he  said 
unto  Jesus,  Lord,  remember  me  when  Thou 
comest  into  Thy  kingdom.  And  Jesus  said 
unto  him,  Verily  I  say  unto  thee,  to-day  shalt 
thou  be  with  me  in  paradise ''  (Luke  xxiii : 
42,  43).  The  Lord  did  not  say  he  could  enter 
His  kingdom,  for  He  told  Nicodemus  that  to 
do  that  it  was  necessary  to  be  *'  born  of  the 
water  and  of  the  Spirit ;"  but  He  promised 
the  penitent  thief  that  on  that  day  he  should 
be  with  Him  in  paradise.  Is  that  not  heaven? 
Let  us  examine  and  see,  for  on  the  proper 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  25 

ascertainment  of  this  fact  depends  a  great 
principle  of  truth. 

The  body  of  Jesus  was  three  days  in  the 
tomb,  when  the  spirit  again  entered  into  it. 
When  the  Eedeemer  had  risen,  Mary  came  to 
the  sepulchre  and  found  that  the  body  of  her 
Master  was  not  there.  She  began  to  inquire, 
when  she  heard  a  voice  which  she  recognized 
as  that  of  the  Lord,  to  whom  she  turned. 
"  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Touch  me  not,  for  I  am 
not  yet  ascended  to  my  Father  :  but  go  to 
my  brethren,  and  say  unto  them,  I  ascend 
unto  my  Father,  and  your  Father  ;  and  to  my 
God,  and  your  God  "  (John  xx  :  17V  Here  is 
the  testimony  of  Jesus  Himself,  that  during 
the  three  days  subsequent  to  His  crucifixion, 
while  His  body  lay  in  the  tomb,  His  spirit  did 
not  go  to  heaven  or  the  presence  of  His 
Father.  Logically,  it  must  follow,  neither 
did  that  of  the  thief. 

Where,  then,  did  he  go  ?  As  Jesus  was  not 
in  His  Father's  presence  during  these  three 
days,  where  was  He  ?  The  Scriptures  have 
not  left  ws  in  doubt  upon  this  point.  Jesus 
transferred  to  Peter  the  keys  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven,  and  placed  him  at  the  head  of  the 
Twelve  Apostles.  Surely  he  is  a  competent 
witness  ,  he  says  :  "  For  Christ  also  hath  once 
suffered  for  sins,  the  Just  for  the  unjust,  that 


26  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

He  might  bring  us  to  God,  being  put  to  death 
in  the  flesh,  but  quickened  by  the  Spirit :  by 
which  also  He  went  and  preached  unto  the 
spirits  in  prison  "  (1  Peter  iii :  18, 19).  During 
the  time  of  His  absence  from  the  body  He 
was  preaching  "  unto  the  spirits  in  prison '' 
— the  place  where  the  thief  also  went. 

This  doctrine  of  preaching  the  Gospel  to 
the  dead  was  taught  by  ihe  Lord  to  His 
Apostles,  just  previous  to  His  crucifixion  : 
"Verily,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  the  hour  is 
coming,  and  now  is,  when  ihe  dead  shall  hear 
the  voice  of  the  Son  ol:  God :  and  they  that 
hear  shall  live.  Marvel  not  at  this :  for  the 
hour  is  coming,  in  the  which  all  laat  are  in 
the  graves  shall  near  His  voice  (John  v : 
25,  28).  On  the  same  subject,  the  chief 
Apostle  says :  *  For,  for  this  cause  was  the 
Gospel  preached  also  to  them  that  are  dead, 
that  they  mighb  be  judged  according  to  men 
in  the  flesh,  but  live  according  to  God  in  the 
spirit "  (1  Peter  iv  :  6). 

The  dead  are  to  be  "judged  according  to 
men  in  the  flesh  ;"  and,  as  the  Lord  iias  de- 
clared that  "except  a  man  be  born  of  the 
water  and  of  the  Spirit "  he  cannot  enter  the 
kingdom,  what  shall  the  dead  who  hear  the 
voice  of  the  Son  of  God  "  do  ?  Is  the  Gospel 
plan  imperfect  in  thai  it  does  not  provide  a 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  27 

way  for  those  who  have  had  no  opportunity 
to  receive  that  birth  ?  God  forbid.  Such  an 
injustice  cannot  be.  Paul,  writing  to  the 
Corinthians  respecting  the  resurrection,  says : 
"  Else  what  shall  they  do  which  are  baptized 
for  the  dead,  if  the  dead  rise  not  at  all  ?  Why 
then  are  they  baptized  for  the  dead  ?"  (1  Cor. 
XV  :  29).  The  answer  is  complete  :  The  dead 
may  be  officiated  for  by  those  who  dwell  in 
the  flesh. 

This  IS  the  doctrine  of  salvation  for  the 
dead,  an  imix)rtant  part  of  the  glorious  Gos- 
pel that  is  as  broad  as  the  universe,  and  from 
everlasting  to  everlasting.  By  receiving  the 
baptism  for  the  dead,  those  who  have  passed 
into  the  spirit  world  have  opened  to  them  the 
door  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  "But  one 
man  cannot  act  in  the  place  of  another,"  is 
the  suggestion  that  comes.  The  objector  has 
surely  forgotten,  or  has  not  contemplated  the 
great  truth  that  the  whole  Gk)spel  plan  taught 
in  the  Scriptures  rests  upon  the  vicarious 
atonement  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

THE  HOLY  GHOST. 

*  Fourth— Laying  on  of  hands  for  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost." 

When  the  Apostle  Peter  preached  to  those 
who  sought  salvation,  he  said  :  "  Kepent,  and 


28  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  ye 
shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  For 
the  promise  is  unto  you,  and  to  your  children, 
and  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many  as 
the  Lord  our  God  shall  call ''  (Acts  ii :  38,  39). 
Here  is  the  offer  to  aJl  of  this  blessed  boon, 
the  gift  of  the  Holy  Gliost,  after  baptism  for 
the  remission  of  sins.  It  was  to  them,  and 
their  children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar  off. 
There  was  no  exclusiveness  in  this  ;  the  Gos- 
pel was  open  to  all.  By  conforming  lo  its 
laws,  men  receive  the  benefits  of  their  own 
obedience.  It  is  the  f^eat  natural  order  of 
cause  and  effect.  Comp.y  with  the  conditions, 
the  result  must  follow.  The  sincerely  re- 
pentant believer,  baptized  in  the  proper  man- 
ner, and  by  an  authorized  servant  of  God,  is 
entitled  to  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost  as  a 
matter  of  right. 

How  is  he  to  receive  it  ?  Just  as  did  the 
baptized  believers  under  the  ministry  of  the 
Apostles  :  "  Now,  when  the  Apostles  which 
were  at  Jerusalem  heard  that  Samaria  had 
received  the  word  ot  God,  they  sent  unto 
them  Peter  and  John  :  who,  when  they  were 
come  down,  prayed  for  them,  that  they  might 
receive  the  Holy  Ghost :  (for  as  yet  he  was 
fallen  UDon  none  of  them :    only  they  were 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  29 

baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.) 
Then  laid  they  their  hands  on  them,  and  they 
received  the  Holy  Ghost"  (Acts  viii:  14 — 17); 
"through  laying  on  of  the  Apostles'  hands  the 
Holy  Ghost  was  given"  (v.  18.)  The  Ephe- 
sians  also  "  were  baptized  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus.  And  when  Paul  had  laid  his 
hands  upon  them,  the  Holy  Ghost  came  on 
them  ;  and  they  spake  with  tongues  and 
prophesied  "  (Acts  xix :  5,  6). 

Of  the  office  of  the  Holy  Ghost  the  Lord 
says :  "  Howbeit  when  he,  the  Spirit  of 
Truth,  is  come,  he  will  guide  you  into  all 
truth :  for  he  shall  not  speak  of  himself  ;  but 
whatsoever  he  shall  hear,  that  shall  he  speak : 
and  he  will  show  you  things  to  come.  He 
shall  glorify  me :  for  he  shall  receive  of  mine, 
and  shall  shew  it  unto  you  "  (John  xvi :  13, 14). 
Here  is  the  promise  of  guidance  and  revela- 
tion by  the  Holy  Ghost.  Its  gifts  are  wis- 
dom, knowledge,  faith,  healing,  working  of 
miracles,  discernment  of  spirits,  divers  kinds 
of  tongues,  etc.  (1  Cor.  xii:  4 — 11).  Where- 
ever  the  Holy  Ghost  is  bestowed,  there  are  its 
gifts  and  graces  manifest. 

DIVINE  AUTHORITY. 

"  We  believe  that  a  man  must  be  called  of 
God,  by  'prophecy,  and  by  the  laying  on  of 


30  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

hands,'  by  those  who  are  in  authority,  to 
preach  the  Gospel  and  administer  in  the 
ordinances  thereof." 

The  testimony  of  Scripture  upon  this  is 
that  Jesus  "ordained  twelve,  that  they  should 
be  with  Him,  and  that  He  might  send 
them  forth  to  preach,  and  to  have  power  to 
heal  sicknesses,  and  to  cast  out  devils " 
(Mark  iii :  14,  16).  To  His  Apostles  He  said : 
"  Ye  have  not  chosen  me,  but  I  have  chosen 
you,  and  ordained  you,  that  ye  should  go  and 
bring  forth  fruit,  and  that  your  fruit  should 
remain  :  that  whatsoever  you  shall  ask  of  the 
Father  in  my  name.  He  may  give  it  you" 
(John  XV :  16) ;  and  of  them,  in  praying  to 
His  Father,  He  testified :  "  As  Thou  has  sent 
me  into  the  world,  even  so  have  I  also  sent 
them  into  the  world  "  (John  xvii  :  18).  His 
Father  had  sent  Him  and  had  "given  Him 
authority,"  and  in  like  manner  He  gave 
authority  to  His  Apostles.  They  in  turn  com- 
missioned others  to  act  in  the  ministry — 
"  they  ordained  them  Elders  in  every  church  " 
(Acts  xiv:  23).  As  Paul  has  said,  "No  man 
taketh  this  honor  unto  himself,  but  he  that  is 
called  of  God,  as  was  Aaron  "  (Heb.  v  :  4). 
Aaron  was  called  by  the  voice  of  God,  through 
Moses  (Exodus  iv  •  14,  15). 

The  acts  of  those  who  are  authorized  to 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  31 

officiate  in  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel — to 
whom  are  committed  the  keys  of  the  king- 
dom— are  recognized  by  the  Lord,  and  are 
given  full  force.  '*  Whatsoever  thou  shalt 
bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven  ;  and 
whatsoever  thou  shalt  loose  on  earth  shall  be 
loosed  in  heaven  "  (Matt,  xvi :  19).  But  those 
not  authorized  receive  no  such  recognition. 

OFFICERS. 

"  We  believe  in  the  same  organization  that 
existed  in  the  primitive  Church,  viz. :  Apos- 
tles, Prophets,  Pastors,  Teachers,  Evangelists, 
etc." 

The  Apostle  Paul  taught  that  there  was 
*'  one  Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism,"  and  said 
of  the  Redeemer,  "Wherefore  He  saith,  when 
He  ascended  up  on  high.  He  led  captivity 
captive,  and  gave  gifts  unto  men.  And  He 
gave  some.  Apostles;  and  some,  Prophats;  and 
some.  Evangelists;  and  some.  Pastors  and 
Teachers"  (Eph.  iv :  8, 11).  He  also  preached: 
^Now  ye  are  the  body  of  Christ,  and  mem- 
bers in  particular.  And  God  hath  set  some 
in  the  Church,  first  Apostles,  secondarily 
Prophets,  thirdly  teachers,  after  that  mira- 
cles, then  gifts  of  healings,  helps,  governments, 
diversities  of  tongues  "  (1  Cor.  xii :  27,  28), 

God   set    these    in    the    Church,   is   the 


32  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS, 

Apostle's  testimony.  Shall  man  say  that 
they  are  not  proper?  The  Lord  has  never 
changed  the  organization ;  on  the  contrary, 
these  ojfficers  were  given  "  for  the  perfecting 
of  the  Saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ :  till  we 
all  come  in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  per- 
fect man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of 
the  fulness  of  Christ ;  that  we  henceforth  be 
DO  more  children,  tossed  to  and  fro,  and 
carried  about  with  every  wind  of  doctrine, 
by  the  sleight  of  men,  and  cunning  craftiness, 
whereby  they  lie  in  wait  to  deceive"  (Eph.  iv: 
12—14). 

Is  there  work  for  the  ministry?  Are  the 
Saints  yet  to  be  perfected  1  Are  we  still  far 
from  the  unity  of  the  faith  1  Are  we  less  than 
the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ  in  the 
knowledge  of  God  ?  With  the  present  spec- 
tacle of  jarring  sects,  religious  discords,  and 
disputations  of  doctrines,  no  intelligent  per- 
son would  venture  to  give  other  than  an 
affirmative  reply  to  these  inquiries.  There 
is  evidently  abundant  work  for  the  minis- 
try, and  therefore  a  necessity  for  Apostles, 
Prophets,  and  all  the  officers  that  God  has 
set  in  His  Church.  Wherever  that  Church  is 
organized  upon  the  earth,  there  will  these 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  33 

officers  be  found,  with  all  the  authority,  gifts 
and  powers  that  accompany  the  offices.  The 
church  which  has  them  not  is  not  the  Church 
of  Christ,  according  to  the  evidence  presented 
by  the  word  of  God. 

SPIRITUAL  GIFTS. 

"We  believe  in  the  gift  of  tongues,  prophecy, 
revelation,  visions,  healing,  interpretation  of 
tongues,  etc." 

These  are  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  which 
Christ  promised  should  follow  the  believers. 
They  are  the  signs  which  confirmed  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  by  the  Apostles: 
"And  He  said  unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all 
the  world,  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature.  He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized 
shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not 
shall  be  damned.  And  these  signs  shall  fol- 
low them  that  believe  :  In  my  name  shall 
they  cast  out  devils  ;  they  shall  speak  with 
new  tongues;  they  shall  take  up  serpents; 
and  if  they  drink  any  deadly  thing,  it  shall 
not  hurt  them  ,  they  shall  lay  hands  on  the 
sick,  and  they  shall  recover.  So  then  after 
the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  them,  He  was  re- 
ceived up  into  heaven,  and  sat  on  the  right 
hand  of  God.  And  they  went  forth  and 
preached  everywhere,  the  Lord  working  with 


34  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

them,  and  confirming  the  word  with  signs 
following"  (Mark  xvi:  15—20). 

Of  these  are  the  miracles  wrought  by  our 
Lord  and  Savior.  God  hath  set  in  the  Church 
"miracles,  gifts  of  healings,  helps,  govern- 
ments, diversities  of  tongues"  (1  Cor.  xii: 
26).  Never  at  any  time  has  He  said  they 
should  be  done  away.  He  is  an  unchange- 
able being,  a  God  of  miracles  to-day  as  much 
as  at  any  period  of  the  world's  history.  He 
cannot  be  otherwise  and  still  occupy  His 
exalted  position.  He  cannot  be  shorn  of  His 
power  to  manifest  the  gifts  of  His  Spirit 
among  the  children  of  men,  when  the  latter 
comply  with  His  laws.  His  arm  is  not 
shortened,  or  His  power  to  save  diminished. 
If  miracles,  and  healings,  and  prophecy,  and 
the  other  gifts  of  the  Spirit  do  not  exist 
among  men,  it  is  for  the  same  reason  that  in 
ancient  days  the  Lord  Jesus,  in  "His  own 
country,"  "could  do  no  mighty  work,  save  that 
He  laid  His  hands  on  a  few  sick  folk,  and 
healed  them,"  namely,  "  because  of  their  un- 
belief "  (Mark  vi :  6,7). 

Those  who  dwell  on  the  earth  to-day  are 
equally  the  children  of  our  Father  with  those 
who  lived  nineteen  centuries  ago,  and  have 
an  equal  claim  on  His  blessings  if  they  ob- 
serve His  laws  and  exercise  the  same  faith  in 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  35 

Him  as  did  His  disciples  anciently.  "For 
the  promise  is  unto  you,  and  to  your  children, 
and  to  all  that  are  afar  oJff,"  said  Peter,  in  his 
proclamation  of  the  Gospel,  of  which  Paul 
said,  "But  though  we,  or  an  angel  from 
heaven,  preach  any  other  Gospel  unto  you 
than  that  which  we  have  preached  unto  you, 
let  him  be  accursed  "  (Gal.  i:  8). 

THE  APOSTASY. 

The  Latter-day  Saints  believe  that  but  for 
the  apostasy  of  the  primitive  Christian 
Church,  it  would  have  remained  with  the 
same  organization,  powers  and  ordinances ; 
with  Apostles,  Prophets,  healings,  miracles, 
and  all  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  up  to  the 
present  time.  That  these  ceased  to  exist 
among  men  is  proof  that  there  has  been  a 
departure  from  the  Gospel.  If  the  organiza- 
tion had  remained  it  would  have  been  in  the 
same  form  as  God  placed  it,  and  the  true  suc- 
cessors to  the  Apostles  would  have  followed 
their  example  when  they  filled  the  vacancy 
made  in  the  Twelve  by  Judas's  apostasy — by 
selecting  Matthias  to  be  numbered  with  the 
Apostles  (Acts  1 :  26).  But  there  was  no  suc- 
cession to  the  Twelve  through  the  genera- 
tions which  succeeded  them,  therefore  the 
organization  ceased  to  exist  among  men. 


36  THE  LATTER-DAY   SAINTS. 

If  there  was  to  be  an  event  of  such  im- 
portance in  the  world's  history  as  a  great 
apostasy,  surely  the  disciples  would  have  had 
an  intimation  of  it  through  the  inspiration  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.  By  reference  to  their  writ- 
ings we  find  that  they  had  this  knowledge, 
and  prophesied  concerning  it.  Paul  wrote  to 
Timothy  that  the  time  would  come  when  men 
would  not  endure  sound  doctrine,  but  would 
heap  to  themselves  teachers,  and  turn  away 
from  the  truth.  (2  Tim.  iv:  3,  4).  He  also 
taught  that  in  the  last  days  perilous  times 
should  come,  when  men  should  be  "lovers  of 
pleasure  more  than  lovers  of  God ;  having  a 
foi'm  of  godliness,  but  denying  the  power 
thereof-"' (2  Tim.  iii:  1—5). 

To  the  Thessalonians  was  borne  this  testi- 
mony respecting  the  great  apostasy:  ''Now 
we  beseech  you,  brethren,  by  the  coming  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  our  gathering 
together  unto  Him,  that  ye  be  not  soon  shaken 
in  mind,  or  be  troubled,  neither  by  spirit,  nor 
by  word,  nor  by  letter  as  from  us,  as  that  the 
day  of  Christ  is  at  hand.  Let  no  man  deceive 
you  by  any  means:  for  that  day  shall  not 
come,  except  there  come  a  falling  away  first, 
and  that  man  of  sin  be  revealed,  the  son  of 
perdition;  who  oppose th  and  exalte th  himself 
above  all  that  is  called  God,  or  that  is  wor- 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS-  37 

shipped ;  so  that  he  as  God  sitteth  in  the 
temple  of  God,  shewing  himself  that  he  is 
God.  Remember  ye  not,  that,  when  I  was 
yet  with  you,  I  told  you  these  things  ?  And 
now  ye  know  what  withholdeth  that  he 
might  be  revealed  in  his  time.  For  the  mys- 
tery of  iniquity  doth  already  work  :  only  he 
who  now  letteth  will  let,  until  he  be  taken 
out  of  the  way  "  (2  Thess.  ii :  1—7).  The  "mys- 
tery of  iniquity"  was  making  its  influence 
felt  at  that  early  day.  Paul  had  warned  the 
people  of  what  was  coming  ;  as  he  says, 
"  When  I  was  yet  with  you  I  told  you  these 
things." 

In  the  record  of  the  vision  given  to  the 
Apostle  John,  which  he  says  was  "  the  revela- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ,"  we  are  informed  that 
John  was  shown  "  things  which  shall  be  here- 
after." Of  one  of  the  beasts  which  he  saw  as 
typical  of  a  power  which  should  rise  up  in 
the  earth,  it  is  said,  "  And  it  was  given  to  him 
to  make  war  with  the  Saints,  and  to  overcome 
them:  and  power  was  given  him  over  all 
kindreds,  and  tongues,  and  nations"  (Rev. 
xiii :  7). 

This  is  some  of  the  scriptural  evidence  con- 
cerning the  great  power  which  was  to  deceive 
the  nations  of  the  earth  and  pervert  the 
Gospel  by  teaching  men   and  women    that 


38  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

Apostles  and  Prophets  were  not  necessary, 
and  that  the  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  were 
done  away,  till  Christendom  has  been  brought 
to  the  apostate  condition  in  which  it  is  to- 
day. So  complete  was  the  work  of  this  "mys- 
tery of  iniquity,"  of  the  beast  that  *'  made  war 
with  the  Saints  and  overcame  them,"  that  it 
was  necessary  for  an  angel  to  be  sent  from 
heaven  with  the  Gospel  message  for  man- 
kind. John  says  of  this  event :  "  And  I  saw 
another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven, 
having  the  everlasting  Gospel  to  preach  unto 
them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every 
nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people" 
(Rev.  xiv :  6). 

THE  BOOK  OP  MORMON. 

"We  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of 
God,  as  far  as  it  is  translated  correctl}'^ ;  we 
also  believe  the  Book  of  Mormon  to  be  the 
word  of  God." 

For  people  who  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the 
word  of  God  to  also  believ^e  that  another 
record  is  His  word,  the  two  must  be  consistent 
with  each  other.  There  can  be  no  conflict  be- 
tween them.  For  both  to  be  the  word  of 
God,  they  must  be  divinely  inspired,  and 
their  teachings  be  in  perfect  harmony.  While 
it  would  by  no  means  be  certain  that  a  record 


THE  LA.TTER-DAY  SAINTS.  39 

which  has  passed  through  so  many  hands  as 
have  the  Bible  manuscripts,  with  a  loss  of 
some,  at  least,  of  the  sacred  writings,  would 
contain  a  reference  to  another  record  which 
was  to  be  made  by  a  separate  branch  of  the 
House  of  Israel,  yet  it  would  not  be  unreason- 
able to  hope  that  possibly  an  allusion  to  it 
might  be  found  in  some  of  the  prophetic 
writings 

This  hope  is  not  without  foundation  with 
respect  to  the  Book  of  Mormon,  which  is  a 
history  of  a  part  of  the  House  of  Israel,  on 
the  American  continent.  The  Prophet  Eze- 
kiel  says  :  "  The  word  of  the  Lord  came  again 
unto  me,  saying.  Moreover,  thou  son  of  man, 
take  thee  one  stick,  and  write  upon  it,  For 
Judah,  and  for  the  children  of  Israel  his 
companions  :  then  take  another  stick,  and 
write  upon  it,  For  Joseph,  the  stick  of 
Ephraim,  and  for  all  the  House  of  Israel  his 
companions  :  and  join  them  one  to  another 
into  one  stick  :  and  they  shall  become  one  in 
thine  hand.  And  when  the  children  of  thy 
people  shall  speak  unto  thee,  saying,  Wilt 
thou  not  show  unto  us  what  thou  meanest  by 
these  ?  Say  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
God  :  Behold,  I  will  take  the  stick  of  Joseph, 
which  is  in  the  hand  of  Ephraim,  and  the 
tribes  of  Israel  his  fellows,  and  will  put  them 


40  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

with  him,  even  with  the  stick  of  Judah,  and 
they  shall  be  one  in  mine  hand"  (Ezekiel 
xxxvii:  15—19). 

The  "  stick  of  Judah  "  is  the  record  which 
we  have  of  the  Jews— the  Bible  ;  the  "  stick 
of  Ephraim  "  is  the  other  record,  which  we 
have  in  the  Book  of  Mormon;  and  both  rec- 
ords have  become  one  in  the  hand  of  the 
Lord.  Hosea  says  that  to  Ephraim  had  been 
written  the  great  things  of  the  law  (Hosea 
xiii:  12),  and  the  Savior  informed  His  dis- 
ciples of  others  that  He  must  visit :  "  And 
other  sheep  I  have,  which  are  not  of  this 
fold  :  them  also  I  must  bring,  and  they  shall 
hear  my  voice  ;  and  there  shall  be  one  fold, 
and  one  shepherd  "  (John  x :  16)  These  other 
sheep  were  to  hear  His  voice— to  receive  a 
personal  visit  from  Him. 

The  history  of  the  coming  forth  of  the  Book 
of  Mormon  is,  briefly  stated,  that  its  exist- 
ence and  whereabouts  were  revealed  to  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith  by  an  angel  sent  from 
heaven.  This  angel  said  his  name  was  Moroni, 
and  that  in  the  year  A.D.  420  he  had  buried 
the  sacred  record  in  the  hill  Cuinorah,  which 
is  located  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  After  Joseph  had  received  several 
visits  and  had  been  instructed  by  the  heavenly 
messenger,  the  plates  were  entrusted  to  his 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  41 

care,  with  a  Urini  and  Thummim  for  their 
translation.  Each  plate  was  six  inches  wide 
and  eight  inches  long,  and  not  quite  as  thick 
as  common  tin.  They  were  filled  with  en- 
gravings in  Egyptian  characters,  and  bound 
together  in  a  volume,  as  the  leaves  of  a 
book,  with  three  rings  running  through  the 
whole.  The  volume  was  something  near  six 
inches  in  thickness,  a  part  of  it  being  sealed. 
The  characters  on  the  unsealed  part  were 
small  and  beautifully  engraved.  The  whole 
book  exhibited  many  marks  of  antiquity  in 
its  construction,  and  much  skill  in  the  art  of 
engraving.  The  Urim  and  Thummim  con- 
sisted of  two  transparent  stones  set  in  the 
rim  of  a  bow  fastened  to  a  breastplate.  The 
unsealed  portion  of  the  plates  was  translated, 
and  the  whole  were  again  taken  charge  of  by 
the  angel.  The  part  which  had  been  trans- 
lated was  published  early  in  1830,  as  the  Book 
of  Mormon,  according  to  the  command  of 
God.  It  is  an  abridgment  made  by  the 
Prophet  Mormon,  father  of  Moroni,  from  the 
records  of  his  forefathers.  On  the  title-page 
is  this  statement: 

Wherefore  it  is  an  abridgment  of  the  record  of  the 
people  of  Nephi,  and  also  of  the  Lamanites ;  written 
to  the  Lamanites  who  are  a  remnant  of  the  house  of 
Israel ;  and  also  to  Jew  and  Gentile  :  written  by  way 


42  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

of  commandment,  and  also  by  the  Spirit  of  prophecy 
and  of  revelation.  Written  and  sealed  up,  and  hid  up 
unto  the  Lord,  that  they  might  not  be  destroyed ;  to 
come  forth  by  the  gift  and  power  of  God  unto  the  in- 
terpretation thereof  •  sealed  by  the  hand  of  Moroni, 
and  hid  up  unto  the  Lord,  to  come  forth  in  due  time 
by  the  way  of  Gentile  ;  the  interpretation  thereof  by 
the  gift  of  God. 

An  abridgment  taken  from  the  Book  of  Ether  also; 
which  is  a  record  of  the  people  of  Jared ;  who  were 
scattered  at  the  time  the  Lord  confounded  the  lan- 
guage of  the  people  when  they  were  building  a  tower  to 
get  to  heaven ;  which  is  to  shew  unto  the  remnant  of 
the  House  of  Israel  what  great  things  the  Lord  hath 
done  for  their  fathers ;  and  that  they  may  know  the 
covenants  of  the  Lord,  that  they  are  not  cast  off  for- 
ever ;  and  also  to  the  convincing  of  the  Jew  and  Gen- 
tile that  JESUS  is  the  CHRIST,  the  ETERNAL 
GOD,  manifesting  Himself  unto  all  nations.  And  now 
if  there  are  faults,  they  are  the  mistakes  of  men  : 
wherefore  condemn  not  the  things  of  God,  that  ye  may 
be  found  spotless  at  the  judgment -seat  of  Christ. 

Several  persons  were  permitted  to  view 
the  plates,  among  the  number  being  the 
"  Three  Witnesses,"  who  thus  testify  of  what 
they  saw  and  heard  : 

The  Testimony  op  Three  Witnesses.— Be  it  known 
unto  all  nations,  kindreds,  tongues,  and  people  unto 
whom  this  work  shall  come,  that  we,  through  the 
grace  of  God  the  Father,  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
have  seen  the  plates  which  contain  this  record,  which 
is  a  record  of  the  people  of  Nephi,  and  also  of  the 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  43 

Lamanites,  their  brethren,  and  also  of  the  people  of 
Jared,  who  came  from  the  tower  of  which  hath  been 
spoken  ;  and  we  also  know  that  they  have  been  trans- 
lated by  the  gift  and  power  of  God,  for  His  voice  hath 
declared  it  unto  us ;  wherefore  we  know  of  a  surety 
that  the  work  is  true.  And  we  also  testify  that  we 
have  seen  the  engravinofs  which  are  upon  the  plates ; 
and  they  have  been  shewn  unto  us  by  the  power  of 
God,  and  not  of  man.  And  we  declare  with  words  of 
soberness,  that  an  angel  of  God  came  down  from 
heaven,  and  he  brought  and  laid  before  our  eyes,  that 
we  beheld  and  saw  the  plates,  and  the  engravings 
thereon  ;  and  we  know  that  it  is  by  the  grace  of  God 
the  Father,  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  beheld 
and  bear  record  that  these  things  are  true  ;  and  it  is 
marvellous  in  our  eyes,  nevertheless  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  commanded  us  that  we  should  bear  record  of  it ; 
wherefore,  to  be  obedient  unto  the  commandments  of 
God,  we  bear  testimony  of  these  things.  And  we 
know  that  if  we  are  faithful  in  Christ,  we  shall  rid  our 
garments  of  the  blood  of  all  men,  and  be  found  spotless 
before  the  judgment-s»»at  of  Christ,  and  shall  dwell 
with  Him  eternally  in  the  heavens.  And  the  honor  be 
to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost, 
which  is  one  God.     Amen.  Oliver  Cowdery, 

David  Whitmer, 
Martin  Harris. 

From  that  testimony  they  never  varied. 
They  were  separated  from  the  Latter-day 
Saints,  having  departed  from  the  Church, 
to  which  they  belonged  for  a  time  after  its 
organization.    But  nothing  could  induce  them 


44  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

to  change  their  statement.  It  was  true,  and 
they  knew  it.  In  their  old  age  Oliver  Cow- 
dery  and  Martin  Harris  returned  to  the 
Church.  David  Whitmer  never  did.  He  was 
the  last  to  survive,  his  death  having  occurred 
in  January,  1888,  at  Richmond,  Missouri. 
When  on  his  deathbed  he  called  his  family 
and  friends  around  him,  and  made  to  them  a 
solemn  declaration  that  he  knew  the  Book  of 
Mormon,  and  his  testimony  thereto,  to  be  true 
Eight  others  also  testify  as  follows  : 
Thk  Testimony  op  Eight  Witnesses.— Beit  known 
unto  all  nations,  kindreds,  tongues,  and  people  unto 
whom  this  work  shall  come,  that  Joseph  Smith,  Jun., 
the  translator  of  this  work,  has  shewn  unto  us  the 
plates  of  which  hath  been  spoken,  which  have  the 
appearance  of  gold  ;  and  as  many  of  the  leaves  as  the 
said  Smith  has  translated,  we  did  handle  with  our 
hands  ;  and  we  also  saw  the  engravings  thereon,  all  of 
which  has  the  appearance  of  ancient  work,  and  of 
curious  workmanship.  And  this  we  bear  record  with 
words  of  soberness,  that  the  said  Smith  has  shewn  unto 
us,  for  we  have  seen  and  hefted,  and  know  of  a  surety 
that  the  said  Smith  has  got  the  plates  of  which  wc 
have  spoken.  And  we  give  our  names  unto  the  world, 
to  witness  unto  the  world  that  which  we  have  seen , 
and  we  lie  not,  God  bearing  witness  of  it. 

Christian  Whitmer,       Hirasi  Page, 
Jacob  Whitmer,  Joseph  Smiih,  Sen. 

Peter  Whitmer,  Jun.      Hirum  Smith, 
John  Whitmer,  Samuel  H.  Smith. 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  45 

Like  the  three,  they  never  faltered  in  main- 
taining that  what  they  had  subscribed  to  res- 
pecting the  Book  of  Mormon  was  the  truth, 
and  was  with  them  an  absolute  knowledge. 

Of  further  evidence  concerning  the  authen- 
ticity of  the  Book  of  Mormon,  there  is  in  this 
sketch  an  opportunity  of  saying  but  little. 
Regarding  the  external  proof,  it  must  suffice 
to  merely  call  attention  to  the  developments 
of  archaeological  research  on  the  American 
continent.  When  the  Book  of  Mormon  was 
first  published  it  was  the  accepted  theory  of 
the  civilized  world  that  America  was  not 
peopled  by  any  nation  of  ancient  times 
which  had  made  marked  progress  in  civiliza- 
tion But  subsequently,  from  the  appearance 
of  Captain  Dupaix's  book  in  1834-5,  followed 
by  the  evidence  of  Lord  Kingsbo rough, 
Stevens  and  Catherwood,  Powell,  and  other 
well-known  archaeologists  and  explorers,  a 
change  came  with  respect  to  this  matter, 
until  now  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  advanced 
position  reached  by  ancient  American  civili- 
zation, as  well  as  of  the  great  antiquity  of  the 
native  American  races.  The  ruined  temples 
and  crumbling  palaces  of  the  ancient  cities  of 
Uxmal,  Copan,  Palenque,  Quiche,  and  scores 
of  others,  whose  architecture  rivals  that  of 
any  contemporaneous  cities  of  the  Old  World, 


46  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

bear  silent  but  incontrovertible  testimony  to 
the  historical  truth  of  the  Book  of  Mormon. 

With  internal  evidence  of  its  divine  authen- 
ticity, the  volume  is  amply  provided.  It  pre- 
sents a  code  of  ethics  whose  purity  and  godli- 
ness are  unexcelled  by  any  publication  that 
has  seen  the  light  of  day.  In  its  pages  there 
are  no  anachronisms  and  no  contradictions. 
The  various  writers  are  in  perfect  accord. 
Compared  with  the  great  truths  of  science 
and  nature,  there  are  no  absurdities  and  no 
inconsistencies.  Between  it  and  the  Bible 
there  is  complete  harmony  in  doctrine  and  in 
prophecy.  It  is  a  book  that  would  be  profit- 
able reading  to  any  thoughtful  person.  No 
intelligent,  honest  and  sincere  seeker  after 
truth  can  give  it  thorough  examination  and 
consideration,  with  an  understanding  of  the 
circumstances  under  which  it  was  brought 
forth,  without  being  convinced  that  in  giving 
to  the  world  the  Book  of  Mormon,  God  has 
wrought  one  of  the  greatest  miracles  of  any 
age  or  time. 

REVELATION. 

"We  believe  all  that  God  has  revealed, 
all  that  He  does  now  reveal,  and  that  He  will 
yet  reveal  many  great  and  important  things 
pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God." 


THE   LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  47 

When  the  Lord  promised  His  disciples  the 
Holy  Ghost,  He  informed  them  that  it  would 
teach  them  all  things  (John  xiv:  20);  "He 
shall  receive  of  mine,  and  shall  show  it  unto 
you"  (John  xvi:  14).  This  was  a  direct 
promise  of  revelation  through  the  medium  of 
the  Holy  Ghost ;  therefore  belief  in  revela- 
tion is  a  scriptural  doctrine.  It  is  the  com- 
munication to  men  of  knowledge  from  God  : 
*'  Howbeit,  when  He,  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  is 
come,  He  will  guide  you  into  all  truth :  for  He 
shall  not  speak  of  Himself;  but  whatsoever 
He  shall  hear,  that  shall  He  speak;  and  He 
will  show  you  things  to  come "  (John  xvi:  13). 
This  is  the  word  of  the  Lord — that  the  Holy 
Ghost  should  reveal  things  to  come.  The 
same  condition  which  caused  the  withdrawal 
of  tiie  other  gifts  of  the  Spirit  also  caused  the 
withdrawal  of  the  gift  of  revelation.  It  was 
because  of  the  apostasy — the  unbelief  of  man. 
Never  has  the  Lord  said  that  He  would  reveal 
no  more  to  the  children  of  men.  But  He  has 
forbidden  men  to  add  to  or  take  from  that 
which  He  reveals  (Rev.  xxii:  18,  19).  When 
ever  the  Almighty  has  authorized  ser\'ants 
upon  the  earth,  there  is  with  them  the  gift  of 
revelation.  "  Surely  the  Lord  God  will  do 
nothing,  but  He  revealeth  His  secret  unto 
His  servants  the  Prophets"   (Amos  iii:    7). 


4»,  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

The  Apostle  says  that  if  a  man  lacks  wis- 
dom, and  asks  in  faith  for  God  to  bestow 
it  on  him,  He  will  do  so  liberally  (James  i: 
f  6). 

RESTORATION  OP  THE  GOSPEL. 

The  tidings  which  the  Latter-day  Saints 
bear  to  the  world  are,  that  the  Gospel  has 
been  restored  to  earth  in  this  dispensation  ; 
that  the  present  is  the  time  of  which  Paul 
wrote.  "  that  in  the  dispensation  of  the  ful- 
ness of  times  He  might  gather  together  in  one 
all  things  in  Christ,  both  which  are  in  heaven 
and  which  are  on  earth  ;  even  in  Him  "  (Eph. 
i :  10).  It  is  this  restoration  which  John  the 
Revelator  saw  in  vision  on  the  Isle  of  Pat" 
mos,  and  of  which  he  says:  "And  I  saw  an- 
other angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  having 
the  everlasting  Gospel  to  preach  unto  them 
that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every  nation, 
and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,  saying 
with  a  loud  voice,  Fear  God  and  give  glory  to 
Him  ;  for  the  hour  of  His  judgment  is  come  : 
and  worship  Him  that  made  heaven,  and 
earth,  and  the  sea,  and  the  fountains  of 
waters"  (Rev.  xiv:  6,  7). 

The  Latter-day  Saints  testify  that  this 
angel  has  appeared,  and  has  restored  the 
Gospel,  which  is  now  being  preached  to  the 


THE   LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  49 

nations.  It  is  the  same  now  as  anciently,  with 
all  the  gifts,  powers  and  blessings.  Nothing 
is  lacking.  It  is  presented  to  all  people 
for  their  consideration.  The  most  thorougk 
investigation  is  invited.  There  is  nothing  to 
conceal  or  hold  back.  It  is  not  the  province 
of  the  Gospel  to  put  its  light  under  a  bushel, 
but  to  entreat  all  men  to  come  forward  and 
test  its  truth.  "  Prove  all  things  ;  hold  fast 
that  which  is  good,"  was  the  admonition  of 
the  Apostle  Paul;  the  same  invitation  is  ex- 
tended to-day. 

Men  are  given  intelligence ;  they  are  in 
possession  of  reasoning  power.  It  is  an  insult 
to  Deity  to  say  that  He  forbids  us  to  use  these 
in  seeking  for  knowledge.  He  asks  for  in- 
telligent conformity  to  the  eternal  laws  of 
truth,  not  for  blind  obedience  to  the  dogmas 
of  men.  He  has  given  to  man  his  free  agency. 
As  expressed  in  the  hymn : 

"  Know  this,  that  every  soul  is  free 
To  choose  bis  life  and  what  he'll  be  ; 
For  this  eternal  truth  is  given, 
That  God  will  force  no  man  to  heaven. 

"  He*ll  call,  persuade,  direct  aright— 
Bless  him  with  wisdom,  love  and  light — 
In  nameless  ways  be  good  and  kind, 
But  never  force  the  human  mind. 
4 


50  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

•'  Freedom  and  reason  make  us  men ; 
Take  these  away,  what  are  we  then  ? 
Mere  animals,  and  just  as  well 
The  beasts  may  think  of  heaven  or  helL" 

This  free  agency  was  recognized  by  the 
Divine  Master,  who  said  to  the  Jews,  "Search 
the  Scriptures  ;  for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have 
eternal  life :  and  they  are  they  which  testify 
of  me"  (John  v:  39).  To  this  testimony  and 
counsel  of  the  Lord  the  Latter-day  Saints 
direct  attention. 

OTHER  DOCTRINES. 

Of  the  other  principles  believed  in  by  the 
Latter-day  Saints  there  is  not  upon  this  occa- 
sion opportunity  to  speak  at  length.  These 
are :  The  Gathering  of  Israel ;  the  Restora- 
tion of  the  Ten  Tribes ;  the  Support  of 
Earthly  Governments  for  the  Protection  of 
Human  Eights;  the  Building  up  of  Zion 
and  Re-building  of  Jerusalem;  the  Resur- 
rection ;  the  Second  Coming  of  Christ  to 
reign  as  Lord  of  lords  and  King  of  kings — 
all  of  which  are  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  as 
clearly  maintained  in  its  teachings  as  those 
which  have  been  spoken  of. 

It  may  be  well  to  refer  to  their  ordinance  of 
marriage,  of  which  there  appears  to  be  such 
a  misunderstanding  in  the  world.    This  can 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  51 

be  briefly  stated.  The  Latter-day  Saints  be- 
lieve that  marriage  is  ordained  of  God ;  that 
He  has  revealed  to  them  its  everlasting  cove- 
nant ;  that  when  the  ceremony  is  performed 
by  His  authority,  the  union  of  husband  and 
wife  is  eternal — that  it  is  bound  on  earth  and 
bound  in  the  heavens.  "And  they  twain 
shall  be  one  flesh :  so  then  they  are  no  more 
twain,  but  one  flesh.  What  tlierefore  God 
hath  joined  together,  let  not  man  put  asun- 
der" (Mark  x:  8,  9).  It  is  a  covenant  that  is 
entered  into  voluntarily  by  the  parties  ;  there 
can  be  no  compulsion  in  this,  or  in  any  of  the 
ordinances  of  the  Gospel.  The  Saints  also  be- 
lieve that  the  patriarchal  order  of  marriage, 
which  was  observed  by  holy  men  and  women 
of  old,  is  in  consonance  with  the  laws  of  God 
and  of  nature.  This  order  includes  a  plurality 
of  wives,  as  it  was  taught  and  practiced  by 
Prophets  of  God  in  ancient  times.  Many 
people  revile  against  it,  frequently  because 
they  are  ignorant  of  its  harmony  with  natural 
laws,  but  it  ill  becomes  those  who  profess  a 
belief  in  Christianity  to  say  that  God  ever 
gave  to  His  children  a  law  that  was  sinful  in 
its  nature  or  pernicious  in  its  effects  ;  to  thus 
reproach  the  justice  and  righteousness  of  the 
Almighty  is  blasphemy. 
With  jbhe  Latter-day  Saints  the  principle  of 


52  THE  LATTER-DAY   SAINTS. 

celestial  marriage  is  the  union  of  husband  and 
wife  for  time  and  eternity.  They  believe  the 
family  relation  exists  in  the  celestial  king- 
dom of  God.  They  also  have  pronounced 
views  upon  the  purpose  of  the  union  of  the 
sexes.  They  do  not  believe  that  its  object  is 
the  gratification  of  passion,  but  that  such  an 
idea  is  wicked  in  its  inception  and  damning  in 
its  practice.  They  believe  that  a  departure 
from  the  paths  of  virtue  is  punishable  by  the 
severest  penalties,  and  that  the  violation  of 
the  marriage  covenant  is  an  offense  which 
ranks  next  to  the  crime  of  murder. 

A  GLANCE  AT  HISTORY. 

The  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  was  born  at 
Sharon,  Windsor  County,  Vermont,  U.S.A., 
December  23,  1805,  his  father  being  a  farmer. 
In  the  spring  of  the  year  1820,  when  Joseph 
was  a  little  over  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  be- 
came deeply  interested  in  religious  matters. 
He  read  the  passage  in  James  i :  5  :  "If  any 
of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  that 
giveth  to  all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth 
not,  and  it  shall  be  given  him.^'  With  full  re- 
liance upon  that  promise  in  the  Divine  Word, 
this  humble  lad  prayed  to  God  and  received 
the  heavenly  manifestation.  He  continued 
faithful    and  was  instructed  by  messengers 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  53 

from  heaven,  and  received  and  brought  forth 
the  Book  of  Mormon.  When  these  facts  be- 
came known  to  the  people  in  the  vicinity  of 
where  he  resided,  he  was  made  the  object  of 
false  and  slanderous  reports,  and  severe  per- 
secutions. Many  attempts  were  made  to  kill 
him,  and  every  device  was  used  to  get  the 
plates  from  him  ;  but  the  Lord  protected  him, 
and  people  began  to  believe  his  testimony. 
In  1829,  John  the  Baptist  came  and  ordained 
him  to  the  Aaronic  Priesthood  ;  in  the  same 
year  the  Apostles  Peter,  ^ames  and  John  or- 
dained him  to  the  Apostleship. 

In  obedience  to  the  command  of  God,  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  was  once  more  or- 
ganized on  the  earth,  \yith  the  promise  from 
the  Lord  that  it  would  never  again  be 
taken  from  among  men  ;  that  it  was  re- 
stored pieparatory  to  the  ushering  in  of 
Christ's  millennial  reign  on  earth.  Some  of 
its  members  were  ordained  and  sent  out 
to  preach.  Those  who  received  their  testi- 
mony and  were  baptized  were  filled  with  the 
Holy  Ghost  by  the  laying  on  of  hands,  and 
the  word  was  confirmed  with  signs  following. 
The  Church  rapidly  increased  in  member- 
ship, and  branches  were  organized  in  many 
of  the  States.  A  Temple  was  erected  in  Kirt- 
land,  Ohio.     The  State  of  Missouri  became 


54  THE   LATTER-DAY   SAINTS. 

the  principal  place  for  the  gathering  of  the 
people ;  but  because  they  would  not  join  in 
the  practices  of  the  lawless  element  there, 
and  were  believers  in  an  unpopular  religion, 
an  organized  mob  drove  them  from  their 
habitations,  contrary  to  law,  justice  and  hu- 
manity, to  wander  on  the  bleak  prairies,  in 
wintry  weather,  till  they  left  the  tracks  of 
their  bleeding  feet  on  the  frozen  ground. 
Men,  women  and  children  were  subjected  to 
the  most  fiendish  outrages — starved,  tortured, 
butchered.  This  was  in  a  land  that  boasted 
of  religious  freedom,  and  tolerance  ! 

Finally,  about  twelve  thousand  who  had 
escaped  the  exterminating  order  of  Missouri's 
mob  found  a  resting  place  in  Illinois,  and 
built  up  the  beautiful  city  of  Nauvoo.  But 
the  refuge  was  only  temporary,  for  the  bigot 
and  the  criminal  united  in  a  relentless  and 
bloody  warfare  upon  them.  Less  than  six 
years  after  their  expulsion  from  Missouri, 
their  Prophet  was  assassinated  in  Carthage 
jail,  while  in  the  hands  of  the  officers  of  the 
law,  and  under  the  pledged  protection  of  the 
governor  of  the  State,  Thomas  Ford.  This 
was  on  June  27,  1844.  Joseph  Smith  had 
committed  no  offense ;  he  was  guilty  of  no 
wrong.  "The  law  cannot  reach  him,  but 
powder  and  ball   shall  !"  was  the  cry  of  his 


THE   LATTER-DAY   SAINTS.  55 

murderers.  The  blood  of  the  martyred 
Prophet  and  his  fellow-religionists  still  cries 
to  God  for  vengeance  ! 

The  enemies  of  the  Saints,  however,  were 
doomed  to  disappointment,  for  the  death  of 
the  Prophet  did  not  stop  the  work,  or  break 
up  the  Church  organization.  The  leadership 
devolved  on  the  Twelve  Apostles,  with 
Brigham  Young  as  their  President ;  even 
greater  energy  was  displayed  than  before, 
and  the  Temple  at  Nauvoo  was  soon  com- 
pleted. Fiendish  plots  were  laid,  and  bar- 
barous plans  adopted  to  blacken  the  character 
of  the  "  Mormon  "  people,  and  make  them  ap- 
pear abominable  in  the  eyes  of  the  public. 
Numerous  atrocities  were  committed  by  the 
mobocrats,  who  falsely  attributed  them  to 
the  Saints,  and  thus  aroused  public  indigna- 
tion against  theni. 

Hoping  to  secure  immunity  from  these  un- 
justifiable attacks,  they  consented  to  move 
from  the  State,  the  mob  agreeing  to  allow 
them  to  remain  in  peace  a  given  time,  so  the 
exodus  could  be  accomplished.  This  agree- 
ment was  soon  disregarded  by  the  persecu- 
tors, who  were  reckless,  and  impatient  to  des- 
poil the  Saints.  When  a  portion  of  the  latter 
had  left  Nauvoo,  the  remnant  was  attacked 
by  an  armed  force,  and  driven  into  Iowa  in 


56  THE   LATTER-DAY   SAINTS. 

a  destitute  conditioQ.  General  Thomas  L. 
Kane,  of  Philadelphia,  who  passed  that  way 
a  few  days  afterward,  related  his  experience 
in  a  lecture  before  the  Historical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  following  is  an  extract 
from  his  address :  "  Dreadful,  indeed,  was 
the  suffering  of  these  forsaken  beings ;  bowed 
and  cramped  by  cold  and  sunburn,  alternating 
as  each  weary  day  and  night  dragged  on,  they 
were,  almost  all  of  them,  the  cripjDled  victims 
of  disease.  They  were  there  because  they  had 
no  homes,  nor  hospital,  nor  poor-house,  nor 
friends  to  offer  them  any.  They  could  not 
satisfy  the  feeble  cravings  of  their  sick  ;  they 
had  not  bread  to  quiet  the  fractious  hunger- 
cries  of  their  children.  Mothers  and  babes, 
daughters  and  grandparents,  all  of  them  alike, 
were  bivouacked  in  tatters,  wanting  even 
covering  to  comfort  those  whom  the  sick 
shivers  of  fever  were  searching  to  the  mar- 
row. These  were  Mormons,  famishing  in  Lee 
County,  Iowa,  in  the  fourth  week  of  the  month 
of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1846. 
The  city — ^it  was  Nauvoo,  Illinois.  The  Mor- 
mons were  the  owners  of  that  city,  and  the 
smiling  country  around.  And  those  who  had 
stopped  their  plows,  who  had  silenced  their 
hammers,  their  axes,  their  shuttles,  and 
their  workshop  wheels ;  those  who  had  put 


THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS.  57 

out  their  fires,  who  had  eaten  their  food, 
spoiled  their  orchards,  and  trampled  under 
foot  their  thousands  of  acres  of  unhar- 
vested  bread— these  were  the  keepers  of 
their  dwellings,  the  carousers  in  their  Tem- 
ple, whose  drunken  riot  insulted  the  ears 
of  their  dying."  Bancroft  Library 

Out  into  the  trackless  American  wilos,  into 
an  Indian  country,  the  "  Mormons  "  wended 
their  way,  weary  and  destitute,  for  more  than 
fifteen  hundred  miles,  their  pathway  being 
marked  by  the  graves  of  their  dead.  The 
history  of  their  privations  and  sufferings  is 
harrowing  in  the  extreme.  The  lives  of  not 
less  than  a  thousand  of  their  number  were 
sacrificed  in  the  relentless  persecutions  con- 
nected with  the  exodus  from  Illinois.  But 
God  opened  their  way,  and  as  a  result  of 
their  unity,  humility  and  faith  through  severe 
tribulations  and  deep  sorrows,  they  were 
guided  to  a  refuge  in  the  valley  of  the  Great 
Salt  Lake.  Three  years  later,  in  1850,  Con- 
gress created  the  Territory  of  Utah.  Under 
the  territorial  form  of  government,  the 
governor,  secretary,  judges,  marshals,  post- 
masters, election  and  other  territorial  offi- 
cers, are  appointed  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States.        Bancroft  Library 

In  their  new  home,  the  Saints  increased  in 


58  THE   LATTER-DAY    SAINTS. 

numbers,  and  were  beginning  to  enjoy  some 
of  the  comforts  of  life  as  a  reward  of  their 
toil,  when,  in  1857,  the  national  government 
was  induced,  through  the  misrepresentations 
of  some  of  its  officials,  to  send  an  army 
against  the  "  Mormons,"  who  prepared  for 
another  exodus,  and  to  defend  themselves. 
But  the  time  required  in  such  an  under- 
taking gave  the  government  an  opportunity 
to  discover  that  it  had  been  misled,  and  to 
change  its  course.  The  record  of  the  expedi- 
tion, with  its  expenditure  of  twenty  millions 
of  dollars,  stands  as  a  monument  of  the  folly 
of  judging  a  matter  hastily. 

The  current  of  popular  opinion,  however, 
had  set  in  strongly  against  the  Saints,  and  it 
is  difficult  to  change  it;  but  the  majority  of 
those  with  whom  they  are  now  in  contact  are 
not  the  lawless  element  of  Missouri  and 
Illinois,  so  that  the  violence  of  former  times 
is  no  longer  used  against  the  body  of  the 
people  where  they  are  known.  But  the  ad- 
verse feeling  has  caused  legislation  hostile 
to  them.  One  feature  of  their  religion  that 
has  been  attacked  is  plurality  of  wives. 
Now  that  they  have  contested  the  question 
legally  to  the  highest  court  in  the  land, 
where  the  decision  has  been  unfavorable 
to  them,  they  bow  to  the  law,   content  to 


THE  LATTER-DAY   SAINTS.  59 

leave  the  issue  between  the  nation  that  has 
raised  its  hand  against  them,  and  the  God  of 
Israel,  in  whose  justice,  mercy  and  omnipo- 
tence they  have  perfect  confidence.  Their 
Church  property  has  also  been  seized  by  the 
government — property  which  was  the  volun- 
tarjg  gift  of  Church  members,  for  the  sujjport 
of  the  poor,  the  building  of  Temples  to  the 
Lord,  and  similar  purposes. 

PRESENT  CONDITION. 
The  results  of  the  industry,  integrity  and 
thrift  of  the  Saints,  as  shown  by  their  present 
condition,  are  a  complete  refutation  of  the 
accusations  of  evil  made  against  them.  A 
corrupt  tree  cannot  bring  forth  good  fruit. 
Utah,  the  chief  centre  of  their  gathering 
place,  has  a  population  of  210,000,  seventy- 
five  per  cent,  being  '*  Mormons."  Ninety  per 
cent,  of  the  heads  of  families  live  in  their 
own  houses  and  on  their  own  lands.  The 
fruitful  orchards,  rich  fields  and  farms,  suc- 
cessful industries,  and  beautiful  cities,  towns 
and  villages,  present  to  the  view  a  paradise 
upon  earth  ;  while  the  vigor  and  cheerfulness 
of  old  and  middle-aged  and  young  betoken 
the  health,  prosperity  and  happiness  which 
are  God's  own  gifts  to  this  people,  in  whose 
hearts  dwells  more  abundantly  than  in  those 


60  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

of  any  other  community  that  love  of  God 
and  of  their  fellow  men  which  is  the  fruit  of 
a  pure  and  noble  life  in  the  service  of  the 
great  Creator. 

Not  alone  in  Utah  do  the  Latter-day  Saints 
find  a  home.  Their  hundreds  of  settlements 
bedeck  the  mountain  valleys  from  the  pmv- 
ince  of  Alberta,  in  Canada,  through  Montana, 
Idaho,  Nevada,  Wyoming,  Utah,  Colorado, 
Arizona,  and  New  Mexico,  in  the  United 
States,  to  Chihuahua,  in  Old  Mexico,  on 
either  side  of  a  line  which  reaches  fifteen 
hundred  miles  along  the  backbone  of  the 
American  continent. 

As  an  ecclesiastical  organization,  the  first 
officers  in  the  Church  are  divinely  commis- 
sioned Apostles  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  divine 
authority  is  possessed  by  the  whole  body  of 
Priesthood,  down  to  the  office  of  Deacon. 
Almost  the  entire  male  membership  of  the 
Church  is  included  in  this  classification  ; 
while  there  are  organizations  for  the  women 
and  children.  About  three  hundred  districts, 
or  wards,  are  united  in  larger  organizations 
called  Stakes  of  Zion,  all  combining  in  a  per- 
fect system. 

FUTURE  DESTINY. 

The  Saints  have  an  abiding  faith   in  the 


THE   LATTER-DAY   SAINTS.  61 

future  glorious  destiny  of  the  work  in  which 
they  are  engaged.  From  its  inception  there 
has  been  steady  and  rapid  progress.  Its 
Elders  have  carried  the  glad  tidings  to  the 
nations  as  God  has  given  them  strength. 
They  have  not  preached  for  money  nor 
divined  for  hire.  Freely  they  have  received  ; 
freely  they  give.  Persecution  has  followed 
those  who  have  obeyed  the  Gospel,  just  as 
it  did  anciently.  But  with  each  wave  of 
adversity  the  Church  has  grown  stronger, 
and  its  opponents  have  been  restricted  in 
their  ability  to  inflict  injuries  on  its  mem- 
bers. Each  successive  blow  of  its  foes  has 
fallen  more  lightly  than  the  one  which 
preceded  it ;  while  the  Saints  have  been 
brightened  and  made  better  by  the  ex- 
perience gained  in  drawing  nearer  to  the 
Lord.  No  Latter-day  Saint  has  any  doubt 
of  the  ultimate  triumph  of  the  principles 
he  has  received  in  the  Gospel.  They  form 
the  plan  of  life,  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation.  The  Church  is  organized  never 
again  to  be  overcome.  Its  destiny  is  to 
continue  to  increase  until  its  Founder  and 
Head,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  will  establish 
His  eternal  kingdom,  and  righteousness  shall 
rule  from  the  rivers  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth. 


62  THE   LATTER-DAY   SAINTS. 

THE  GOSPEL  MESSAGE. 

The  purpose  of  the  Gospel  is  to  lead  us 
back  to  God,  improved  by  the  knowledge 
and  experience  we  have  gained.  There  is 
no  truth  in  any  department  of  life  that  is 
without  its  pale ;  no  knowledge  that  is  be- 
yond its  reach.  Its  truth  is  the  sum  of  all 
existence,  the  knowledge  of  things  that  have 
been,  that  are,  and  that  will  be.  God  is 
truth,  and  His  Gospel  is  the  plan  whereby 
we  may  be  saved  in  His  presence.  This 
is  the  doctrine  that  our  Lord  and  Savior 
taught;  this  is  the  message  given  to  the 
Latter-day  Saints,  and  which  they  pro- 
claim to  the  world.  They  call  upon  all  men 
to  repent  and  do  the  will  of  God.  They 
invite  sincere  seekers  after  truth  every- 
where. They  present  to  the  world  an  ex- 
ample of  the  marvelous  power  of  the  Gospel 
they  have  obeyed.  By  their  fruits  they  show 
its  effects.  They  have  solved  the  problem 
of  a  happy,  prosperous  and  contented  life, 
free  from  sin  and  sorrow,  from  poverty  and 
idleness,  from  hatred  and  hypocrisy.  They 
present  to  the  rest  of  mankind  the  example 
of  a  people  who  put  into  practice  their  be- 
lief in  being  honest,  industrious,  true,  chaste, 
benevolent,  and  in  doing  good  to  all  men. 
If  there  is  anything  virtuous,  lovely,  or  of 


THE   LATTER-DAY   SAINTS.  63 

good  report,  or  praiseworthy,  they  seek  after 
those  things. 

To  all  men  they  bear  the  message  of  the 
Gospel  which  has  made  them  thus.  They 
leave  no  room  for  deceit  and  delusion.  They 
claim  to  have  divine  authority  and  divine 
principles,  and  they  offer  the  proof,  which  is 
in  the  reach  of  every  true,  honest,  virtuous 
man  and  woman.  It  is  the  test  which  the 
Lord  has  commanded  them  to  proffer  to  man- 
kind, the  same  that  He  applied  to  Himself: 
**  My  doctrine  is  not  mine,  but  His  that  sent 
me.  If  any  man  will  do  His  will,  he  shall 
know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God, 
or  whether  I  speak  of  myself"  (John  vii: 
16,  17). 

There  can  be  no  mistake  about  it,  for  if  it 
be  not  of  God,  He  will  not  give  the  knowl- 
edge. But  tens  of  thousands  of  Latter-day 
Saints  bear  witness  that  they  have  received 
the  testimony  from  Him.  It  is  true,  and  we 
bear  you  witness  now  of  its  truth.  Hereby 
we  know  that  we  know  Him,  that  we  keep 
His  commandments.  The  Apostle  John  says : 
**  Whosoever  transgresseth,  and  abideth  not 
in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  hath  not  God.  He 
that  abideth  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  he 
hath  both  the  Father  and  the  Son.  If  there 
come  any  unto  you,  and  bring  not  this  doc- 


64  THE  LATTER-DAY  SAINTS. 

trine,  receive  him  not  into  your  house,  neither 
bid  him  God  speed:  for  he  that  biddeth  him 
God  speed  is  partaker  of  his  evil  deeds" 
(2  John:  9—11). 

That  we  do  bring  this  doctrine,  and  that  it 
is  true,  is  the  testimony  which  we  now  give, 
and  which  we  will  meet  before  the  pleasing 
bar  of  the  Great  Jehovah,  the  eternal  Judge 
of  both  quick  and  dead.  And  may  the  grace 
of  God  the  Father,  whose  throne  is  high  in 
the  heavens,  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who 
sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  His  power  until 
all  things  shall  become  subject  unto  Him,  be 
and  abide  forever  with  those  who  seek  to 
serve  Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.    Amen. 


A2^  a\2/?  ^\2^  ^«Jv2/9 '^^2/5/ 


BOfllS  !fly  SHOULD  Wl 

\   very  limited   ni.mber  of   PHIL    Robinson's 
book, 

are  stili  on  hand.  His  testimony  concern- 
ing the  Mormons  is  so  fair  and  delightful 
that  the  Saints  shv^uld  read  it  for  themselves 
anc!  send  a  copy  to  their  friends.  The  great 
reputation  of  the  writer  will  cause  his  opin- 
ions to  be  at  least  carefully  considered  The 
book  contains  370  pages,  is  bound  in  full 
cloth  and  is  reduced   to   75  cts.  per  copy. 


We  have  a  few  copies  left  of  that  somewhat  re- 
markable and  very  interesting  book  entitled, 
The 

Fall  of  the  Great  Eepublic. 

Do  not  lail  to  get  a  copy  and  read  it.     Paper 
bound,  only  25  cts.,  postpaid. 


You  should  not  fail  to  read 

JX^Xo  1:^:1.0 ii*»  of  JXIryr  I>^i^>^, 
a  nicely  written,  instructive  book  for  young 
people;  265  pages.  Full  cloth  50  cts.;  full 
leather,  gilt.  $1.0t>. 

Semi  IIS   your   Orders.      ^Ve  will  do 
our  lit  most  to  please  you. 

De^ePBt  flelw^  publishing  Go., 

P.O.Box  a  SALT  LAKE  CITY,   UTAH. 


FULL    SETS    OF 


Large  or  Small  Print, 

In  ^i.u  Stvlks  ok  Bindik< 

At  the  Office  of 

DeserebNew^PuUisbip^C 

Box  C.   SALT  Lake  City,  Utah. 


THie^ets^onslst^ 

Book  of  IWCormon,       Doctrine  A  Covenai 
Spencer  s  Letters,       Key  to  THeology, 
Hymn  Boob,  Voice  of  Warning, 

and  Pearl  of  Oreat  Price. 


A 


'%u. 


